Change-over for picture and sound projecting apparatus



.6 her 8, 1927, Serial Patented Mar. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE I). STRONG, F HAYWOOD, ILLINOIS GKANGEOVER FOB PICTURE AND SOUND PROJECTING APPARATUS Application filed August 10, 1928. Serial No. 298,710.

The use of change-overs for moving picture apparatus is now in more or less common use, one device of this kind being shown in my copending a plication filed Decem- With the introduction of motion pictures that have been synchronized with sound, such as music or speech which is reproduced in any known way, such as disk or film methods,

the change-over of the pictures from one machine to another may be accomplished by devices such as shown in my application, but the changing of the sound from one machine to another has not been satisfactorily accomplished, the usual method being to fade the sound out at the conclusion of the reel on one machine and then fade the sound in with the starting of the reel on the next machine. This is done by means of a resistance put into the sound energy circuit and usually requires a second person for operating the same.

The present invention relates to means for changing over both the pictures and sound by means of one switch or one operation whereby the continuity of the picture or projection will not be interfered with but will appear as a continuous movement without undue interruption of either the picture or sound.

The objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved change-over mechanism for motion pictures and sound reproducers; to provide means for changing over both the pictures and sound from one reproducing machine or apparatus to another reproducing machine or apparatus; to provide an improved method of changing over from one to another of a plurality of machines of the character indicated; and to provide such other novel operating means and method of manipulating reproducing machines as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View of a changeover such as shown in my copending application provided with a switch or current controlling means for controlling the sound; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the present invention as applied to a. plurality of moving picture and sound re producing machines.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide means which coact with the picture change-over device so that the sound volume is changed from one machine to another simultaneously with the changing of the picture from one machine to the other. As shown in the drawings, the shutter operating ring 22 which is rotated to actuate the shutters as shown in my application, is rovided with an arm 3 preferably formed 0 insulating material. This arm carries a contact member 4 which is adapted to engage with the switch terminals 5 and 6 when the shutters are in open position. This provides a switch which coacts with the picture change-over and which is used for the purpose of changing over the sound reproduction circuits from one machine to another.

There are at present two difierent methods of synchronized sound reproduction, one being of the vitaphone type, usin the disk method of reproduction and the ot er being of the movietone type using the film method for reproducing sound. In some instances the projection booths are provided with both types of these machines, and Figure 2 illustrates a conveninent method for connecting up both types of such machines with my change-over system. This figure shows three machines A, B and C, each having the two kinds of sound reproducers.

Each machine has a disk reproducer or pick-up as indicated at 7 and a film reproducer or pick-up as indicated at 8. The output from the disk reproducers is through wires 9 and 10, one of these wires leading to a fader or rheostat 11 and the other leading to a switch terminal 12. The output from the film reproducer 8 is through wires 13 and 14, one being connected with the wires 9 and the other to a terminal 15 of the switch 16 which is provided with a contact 17 adapted to engage with either of the terminals 12 or 15. A wire 18 leads from a switch 16 to the contact 5 of the switch 19 in the change-over 20, as shown in Figure 1. A wire 21 leads from the terminal 6 of the switch 19 to the fader 11. wires 23 and 24 lead from the fader 11 to the panel board or amplifier (not understood from the diagram. In some in-- stances the fader or adjusting devices 11 may be omitted, but they provide a simple and convenient means whereby the projectionlst may adjust the output to regulate the volume of the sound from the loud speakers, thus controlling the sound delivered to the auditorium or to the audience.

It will be understood that the changeovers 20 as heretofore used for pictures are provided with interconnected operating means so that when the projectionist opens one of the change-overs any of the others which may be open will be simultaneously closed. Such opening and closing of the respective change-overs is accomplished in the articular form of machine referred to in igure 1 by the rotation of the ring 22. With this in mind the operation of the present system will be readily understood.

If the projectionist is using the disk repro ducers 7 and throws the switches 16 of the respective machines onto the contacts 12 to close the output circuits from such machines, then as the res ective change-overs 20 are operated the swltches 19 will be opened and closed to open and close the output circuits to the amplifier or loud speaker through the wires 23 and 24. For instance, if all of the change-overs are closed the switches 19 will be open and the circuits from the sound producing apparatus will be opened. If the change-over of the machine A is opened, its switch 19 will be closed, thereby simultaneously closing the sound delivery circuit so that the sound will be delivered at the same time that the picture appears on the screen. When the reel on machine A is finished and the projectionist wishes to change to a machine having the following reel, he presses the change-over switch when the changeover cue is given. This causes thechangeover, for instance at B, to open, allowing the picture to be projected to the screen and closes the sound energy switch" of such machine, which allows the sound energy to flow to the amplifiers and so to the loud speakers. At the same time the change-over device for the machine containing the reel being finished closes and cuts ofi from the screen the picture being projected and opens the sound energy switch 19, thereby stopping any further flow of sound energy originating at such machine.

In the event that the film sound reproducing machines 8 are to be used, the switches 16 chines, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction or method herein shown and described but desire to cover broadly the simultaneous control of the change-over of such machines as set forth in my claims, which are as follows.

I claim:

1. The combination with a plurality of moving picture machines for projecting onto a single screen, of a corresponding number of sound reproducers of the disk type and sound reproducers of the film type synchronized with the respective moving picture machines, circuits from the sound reproducing machines to an amplifier or loud speaker, means for controlling the output from said machines to the loud speaker, devices coacting with the respective moving picture machines for cut-, ting oil the light to the screen, and switches actuated by such devices of the respective machines for opening and closing the circuits of the respective sound reproducing devices to the loud speaker.

2. The combination with a plurality of projecting machines adapted to project onto a common screen, each of said projecting machines being operatively associated with a sound producing means adapted to coact therewith, of a corresponding number of coacting change-overs arranged so that when pro ection is permitted from one machine it will be cut ofi from the other machines, change:over devices for the respective sound producing machines and means coacting with the first named change-overs and the sound change-overs whereby when projection is permitted from any one of the projecting machines the sound producing means associated therewith will be permitted to produce sound and the sound producing apparatus associated with each of the other projecting machines will be cut 0d.

3. The combination with a plurality of moving picture machines and sound reproducing machines, each moving picture machine having a sound reproducing machine synchronously driven therewith, of a changeover system for the moving picture machines, a change-over system for changing over the sound reproducing machines and means actuated by the change-overs of the first named system for operating the change-overs of the second named system, whereby the sound from the respective sound reproducing machines will be changed over simultaneously with the light from the corresponding moving picture machines.

4. The combination with moving picture machines each having a coacting synchronously, electrically actuated sound re roducing apparatus, of circuits for supplying current to said apparatus, change-overs for said moving picture machines and means actuated by said change-overs for opening and closing the circuits of the respective sound reproducin'g apparatus which coacts with the corresponding moving picturemachine.

5. An apparatus of the character set forth, comprising a plurality of moving picture machines and sound reproducing apparatus synchronously driven with each of the respective machines, output circuits from the sound reproducing apparatus, change-over means for changing over the light .from one to another of said moving picture machines, and switches actuated by said change-over means for opening and closing the output circuits of the respective sound roducin ap aratus.

LAWRE CE D. TR NG. 

